Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder named American League Player of the Week for first time

Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder, right, is congratulated by third base coach Tom Brookens after Fielder hit a home run off Oakland Athletics' Brett Anderson in the fourth inning on Saturday in Oakland, Calif.AP Photo

DETROIT -- No hitter in the American League had a better week than Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder. And neither did any pitcher.

Fielder was named the AL Player of the Week after he hit .632 (12-for-19) with four doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs, five runs scored in the Tigers' last six games.

Fielder hit both of his homers over the weekend in Oakland, including a three-run blast in Detroit's series opener Friday and a solo shot Saturday in a 7-3 win.

It's the fifth time he has earned Player of the Week honors, but it's his first in the American League. He won four of them in the National League during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fielder led the majors in batting average, RBIs, slugging percentage (1.158) and on-base
percentage (.733) and he tied for second in doubles and tied for third in total bases (22). Of his nine walks, two were intentional.

Fielder, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak, beat out Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez for the weekly award. Sanchez was 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings pitched. He struck out 16 combined batters in his last two starts, including Sunday when he struck out eight and gave up only three hits in a 10-1 win.

Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz, Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Astros first baseman Chris Carter were also considered for the award.